RA1

YES, they do. Best regards, RA1

I agree with PSP Charlie. We all know several to many folks who have survived for many years heart attacks and strokes. It doesn't seem logical that all of those folks were in imminent danger of expiring although some certainly were. Serious or life-threatening seem alternative descriptions of both " attacks". Not to take anything away from DC but I read with interest recently that Wink Martindale was also being considered for American Bandstand. He is a local to me boy who has had his share of fame and presumbably fortune but not on the level that DC enjoyed. Best regards, RA1

50 is WAY too young to be worrying about any such. I thought this would be about "actual" time travel which to me means going by "air". Best regards, RA1 That means "private air" .

Was MS Rice talking about his penis or his IQ? Both have been roundly casitigated in the "underground" media but a reference in todays MSN suggests GW had an above average IQ, not MUCH above, but above. It did NOT go into his "endowment", sexual or otherwise. Best regards, RA1

I liked a recent video about getting rid of 100 things. That suggests going more "green" to me, but, in my case I would like to get rid of all BUT 100 things. It is amazing how many things we accumulate during our life time and how little of it we "really" need, isn't it? I have recently donated a lot of "stuff" to charity and will do even more in the near term future. Best regards, RA1

The Queen + PM meet the Wicked Witch of the West (cast)? Best regards, RA1

Several of my friends are wont to pontificate but, so far, that does not include the Pope. or alternatively, Best regards, RA1

I have been there but just passing through on business. Hot and humid. Unfortunately, I mean the weather. Best regards, RA1

Until my eyes uncrossed this morning, I first read this to say .....while perusing the pontification forum... Best regards, RA1

My personal opinion is that "some" personalities have better luck "stopping completely" any adverse activity. That includes my personality. When I quit smoking 28 years ago, it was one day smoking 30 cigarettes and the next day, zero and it has been zero ever since. However, that is not "easy" with doing less than before. IF you can drink one glass of wine (or two) a day and nothing more, I would think that is medically beneficial. However, much more than that is not. That is according to a LOT of experts, not me. "Other" personalities might have to "struggle" with an alternative to 1-2 glasses of wine per day to "figure out" what works for them. I, likely am among those. I usually drink one beer per day + a couple more drinks of whiskey. To cut down from here will likely mean NO ALCOHOL at all, not a pleasant thought but reality, nonetheless. Best regards, RA1

I have spent all of my life (so far) trying to figure out what is wrong with me and, now, you want me to try to figure out what is wrong with you, also? Best regards, RA1

Sorry I did not see this before. Most any BBQ place in Memphis will have good BBQ so long as what you want is pork shoulder or ribs. The ducks at the Peabody have become a tourist attraction which is probably worth the few minutes it takes so long as you are nearby and show up during the appointed times. If you happen to be nearby, then, right after the ducks, have a drink in the Peabody bar and then walk across Union Ave along the alley by the parking garage and have ribs in the Rendezvous. They are famous for the dry ribs but now offer both wet and dry. You can get a few of both if you don't know what you prefer. If you are focusing on down town where the Peabody is, you can also visit the Gibson guitar factory, walk on Beale street where you will find BB King's place and other purveyors of music and booze/food. The Civil Rights Museum is also nearby, if that interests you. The Madison Hotel is a boutique hotel, also downtown, which although a bit pricey might be interesting. The best steak house is Folks Folly but it is "out east" so you would need a car or a fairly long taxi ride (from down town) to get there. Graceland is probably worth visiting once. It is full of EP schlock but there are interesting bits here and there. The "package" tour not only allows a walking tour of the house but also a museum which has several of his cars + the Lisa Marie (Convair 990) + the Hound Dog (Lockheed Jet Star) on display. Those are right across the street from the house but they take you forth and back via small bus. The Griz just last night made it into the NBA playoffs and FEDEX Forum is also down town if that was of interest. The AAA Redbirds, a STL Cardinals farm team, also have a stadium downtown which is probably the nicest, best run AAA ball park in the country. If baseball is of any interest the ballpark is worth seeing, especially on a pretty day, which we are having many of right now. Best regards, RA1

Having Mitt appear on SNL would be cool. Best regards, RA1

The SS is reputedly held to a standard that is rarely used, mentioned or enforced any longer but it was no "secret" when they signed up. One problem with "their off time" is they really don't have any in the ordinary sense. The job description clearly states that there will be a lot of over time which likely means being called to duty in the middle of the night or week-end, etc. I think it would be frowned upon to get loaded with alcohol during a "night off", nevermind doing most anything other than being available for duty. Their "true" time off is likely to be a planned vacation which likely includes being incommunicado. Then, whatever they do that is "legal" is fine with me. I am of the opinion that likely their careers are "ruined" although I am not sure they should be fired and not given a second chance. I would have to know all of the circumstances to have an opinion about firing them. We all should take responsibility for our actions but some jobs demand it, at least more than others. As a corporate pilot, would you as a passenger be happy if I were up until midnight drinking booze with a 6 AM departure the next day? Not only would that be illegal, it would be unconscionable on my part. Best regards, RA1

It is amazing to me how one person could have so much influence about the reputation and future of a large corporation. Robert Crandall was such a person with AA but he is now long gone and AA has been suffering ever since. Wasn't there also a gal at HP that was either the cause or scapegoat of their problems? Lee Iaccoca was a visible spokeman and chairman of Chrysler but I don't think he "personally" made or broke them. They had too many "other" problems. I said from the beginning that the A380 would be a flop, not because I was prescient about any material or fatigue problems, but because I didn't think there was a market for an aircraft that carried this many folks. I don't think any airline, except maybe JAL, has outfitted it with maximum seating, instead going for "expensive" frills in first class. I thought that FEDEX could make money with this aircraft and the MEM airport has already strengthed one runway and several taxi-ways to accomodate it. I think this is the only airport capable of handling the A380 that does not have any service with same. FEDEX cancelled their order because it was taking too long for delivery. If they can reasonably fix the wing, FEDEX might still be the most prominent company to make money with it. FEDEX will buy them used when the passenger airlines get rid of them at 25 cents on the dollar. Lockheed had a similar problem with the C5A aircraft. It was partly a victim of Robert McNamara's "faulty" idea to make a military aircraft "able" to perform too many missions. After many "fixes" and many dollars, it is now a fairly reliable aircraft but with a specific and limited role. One big difference between the C5 and the A380 was who ostensibly paid for it. The US taxpayers were entirely on the hook for the C5 while, the airlines are paying for the 380, more or less. I certainly agree that the Republicans have done a lot to damage their "brand" in the last several years. It could have been a bigger disaster for them if the Democrats were as competent as they would like to think they are. Best regards, RA1

Some years back business had a tax incentive based entirely upon new hires. I don't know how well it worked in the grand scheme of things but surely there are statistics available regarding it. I see Reid has proposed something similar and even though I have not read the details, the idea seems right. The billions that the Times article says would be collected by a "new tax" on those earning over 1 million a year would not support the current federal budget for even 1/2 day, so, while it is "something" it isn't very much. Symbolic or political is about the most I could say for it. ( I am not one earning over 1 million a year so I don't have a dog in that particular fight.) The "throw away" line in the article that has my unabashed approval is the one about our tax code being in dire need of overhaul. This is something that has been tried many times before, all with very limited success. As soon as any new legislation is passed, various MOC start chipping away based upon their special interest groups. Too bad we don't have any pols with the guts to stand up for what is right. Best regards, RA1

At least I am not wondering how you really feel. I tend to think some on the Left are dissatisfied with BO because of a clause in your above post, "...he's not actually done anything". Meaning he has not addressed many of the issues he mentioned in his campaign. Seemingly, some on the Right are appreciative of this but also feel most of what he has done is harmful. I think it is likely to take at least 20 years, if not more, to be able to even semi-correctly make a judgement. Right now it seems we are going on emotions. Best regards, RA1

I wish some of you guys would go back and read what you have written. You are doing exactly what you are accusing "others" of doing. I don't trust ANY pols but I don't hate any either. Best regards, RA1

TY- I just re-read what you wrote. I think among the reasons that folks are not liking BO include the "fear" of unemployment, the fear of getting old without a retirement plan, the fear of getting old without medical services, the fear of "things" that are different. The demographics of the country are definitely changing and there is the fear of that also which fits into the "unknown" or "different" category. If one wishes to be afraid and just casually looks around, there is plenty to be fearful of. As the saying goes, the only constant is change, but, a lot of folks are not only afraid of change but resentful of it. We are not going back to the Eisenhower days and we are not going back to a chicken in every pot, however, exactly where we are going is not clear to anyone and, seemingly, especially not to our elected leaders OR they are certainly keeping it to themselves. I used the word "leaders" advisedly. This is supposed to be a republic and our elected leaders are supposed to lead us in a correct direction regardless of the "polled" opinion of the voters. Unfortunately, in this day of instant communication, they and we know very soon what everyone thinks and what the "pundits" think it "means". The "old days" of members going to Congress for a few days a year and making decisions which were not necessarily known by their constituents for weeks or months was not all bad. On the other hand, the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war was over, the combatants just did not know it yet. Anyway, that is my answer to your question(s). Best regards, RA1

That happens (extra loud thunder) when the bolts are out sized AND they are close. Best regards, RA1 When you hear thunder while in flight, you likely have been hit or it was VERY close.

Personally, I don't "hate" BO. Thank you for not saying or implying that I do. As you no doubt have ascertained, I just don't like his policies. I didn't like Bush, Jr.'s policies either. Don't neglect to remember that regardless of who or which party "thought up" those things you mention does not mean anyone but BO and "his" Congress passed them, at least the ones that have been passed. I think it will take longer than I have left to really determine if BO did as well as you are suggesting. Today, we can look back at JFK and see he got very little of his political agenda enacted. There any number of things "the country" did not like about his policies which may be obvious from Dallas. JFK was charismatic and interesting and I enjoyed that aspect of his unfortunate time in office. However, he was completely at sea when confronted with the Cuban Missile Crisis and, in some ways, blew it and was very lucky to get as much as he did. Nixon might have done worse but we shall never know that, shall we? One thing that JFK did is to de-couple "union" wage increases from productivity, something we are still suffering from now. LBJ took the "martyrdom" of JFK + his vast experience in knowing how the Congress worked + all the "skeletons" he knew about and DID enact much of JFK's political agenda. That + his extreme mishandling of Viet Nam has led to problems we are just now somewhat over and some we are not. Guns and butter did not work then and did not work when Bush tried to do it and is not working now when BO is trying to do it. LBJ's policies also has led directly to the wide spread dissolution of black families. I hope that is going the other way but I fear it is not and, in fact, is being adopted by many others. Sorry to rant. Best regards, RA1

NP. I DO recognize the picture as being one of a conductor. And, I hope his direction will be conducive to good music being performed. Best regards, RA1

I don't think there is any doubt that the US is in decline. I am hoping not irreversibly so. However, our balance of trade has been negative for many years now. We currently owe 12-15 trillion dollars. Our foreign policy is under attack both here and abroad. Are we just whistling in the dark as we stroll pass the cemetary at midnight? I am not one to ever give up and I am a very loyal and patriotic US citizen so I am doing whatever I can to make the situation better. But, we do have a very steep and long hill to climb at the moment. Best regards, RA1

I was a hot gas pumper alright, entirely because it was a summer job in Memphis, TN which meant being out in the heat most of the day. Best regards, RA1

AS- Did you leave out a "T"? Just curious. Best regards, RA1